Yielding wall joint



Sept. 10, 1935. J. MCINERNEY 2,013,693

YIELDING WALL JOINT Filed Maron 29. 1935 M sTfeL/ BEAM/ l FIRE PROOFINGNi /r/QZ lNvENToR i Jogg/1 MCI/wem@ Y @MIM @fwn/vv ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 10, 1935 Application March 29,

4 Claims.

The invention is a yielding connection between interior sub-dividingwalls to compensate for changing dimensions in buildings caused bysettling, vibrations and wind sway.

The connection is formed by inserting yielding material at the edges ofthe walls or by providing sliding or telescoping connections at saidedges.

The object of the invention is to provide means in wall joints tocompensate for changing dimensions in buildings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of forming ayielding wall joint which will permanently locate and hold the Wall.

Another object is to provide a yielding wall joint which may readily beinstalled as the wall is built.

Another object is to provide a yielding wall joint which does notpresent an objectionable appearance.

Another object is to provide a yielding wall joint which providesfreedom of motion in all directions.

Another object is to provide a yielding wall joint in which there is nodirect connection between the plaster of the walls.

A further object is to provide a yielding Wall joint which will permitlateral and longitudinal movement.

And a still further object is to provide a yielding wall joint which isof a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a channel shaped memberattached to the surface of the permanent wall by anchor bolts, aresilient member in said channel shaped member and between the end ofthe tile of the wall and channel, and expansion casings at the edges ofthe plaster to protect the plaster from the edges of the channel shapedmembers.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:-

Figure l is a View showing a typical cross section of the edge of asub-dividing wall in combination with part of a permanent wall orceiling.

Figure 2 is a similar section showing an alternate design in which thechannel shaped member is eliminated.

Figure 3 is a similar section showing an alternate design in which twoangles are used instead of the channel shaped member to provide a methodof using the connection against walls of uneven surfaces.

Figure 4 is a similar section showing an alternate construction in whichfinishing grooves are.

1933, Serial N0. 663,353

(Cl. 'l2-46) provided in the walls at the edges of the channels and apicture molding is provided at one side.

Figure 5 is a similar section showing one side of the wall in which afinishing strip of material is added to round the corners. 5

Figure 6 is a detail showing a section of metal lath or thin materialused at the ends of the plaster in the design shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a section showing expansion joints in the metal lath locatedat the ends and also 10 showing a picture molding attached to one end ofthe channel.

Figure 8 is a similar section showing one side of a wall with a picturemolding formed at one end of the channel.

Figure 9V is a section showing the end of the metal lath or expansioncasing bent to provide spring providing means for taking up lateralmovement in the joint.

Figure 10 is a detail showing a method of con- 20 structing joints inwhich the entire joint is covered.

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be made wherein numeral Iindicates a subdividing wall or partition, numeral 2 a permanent 25 walland numeral 3 a channel, which may be of steel or any material.

The wall I is preferably made with a tile central portion and the sidescovered with plaster slabs and 5. It will be understood, however, 30that this wall may be made of any material and the parts may be arrangedin any manner and it may be of any thickness. The channel 3 may be steelor of any material, and this may be attached to the wall 2 by expansionbolts 6, as 35 shown in Figure 1 or 4, or by any means. In the designshown in Figure 1 it is noted that the expansion bolts 6 extend into thepermanent wall 2 and pass thru the plaster into the reproong material orinto the permanent part of the wall. 40 It will be understood, however,that these bolts may be of any size or length and may only extend intothe plaster or into any part or parts of the wall as may be desired. Itwill be understood that the channels 3 may be held to the perma- 45 nentwalls by any other means or by any other manner. In the design shown inFigure 1 a resilient piece of material l is placed between the end ofthe central, or tile part of the wall, and the channel or permanentwall, as shown, and this 50 is held in place by the expansion bolt 6,which is countersunk therein, as shown. A recess 8 is also provided inthe tile to clear the head of the bolt. This material 'l may be rubber,packing, felt, Whole cork, or any other elastic or ,yielding ma- 55vtile I for clearance.

terial permitting give between the sub-dividing Wall or partition andthe permanent wall. It will be understood however that this material maybe omitted, as shown in Figure 4, so that an air space 9 may be providedbetween the walls. This space may be of any size or may be lled with anyyielding material and may be only partly filled or completely filled orcompletely empty, as may be desired.

The channel 3 may also be a rolled steel shape, or formed in any manneror of any material and is preferably arranged as shown in Figure 1 withthe edges of the flanges overlapping the edges of the plaster sections land 5. The plaster sections 4 and 5 may be provided with thin metalliccasings, or metal lath, or any material, to protect the edges of theouter surface from the edges of the channel. In the design shown inFigure 1 the wall is provided with metal lath sections IU and I I andthese are attached to casings I2 and I3 at the edges of the plaster byexpansion joints I4 and i5. These will engage the edges of the channeland provide a sliding metallic contact between the walls and channel.The sections I and II may be attached to the central tile section bynails I6, as shown, or by any means. It

will be understood that the expansion joints IllV and I5 may bearranged, as shown in Figure 1, or may also be arranged in the ends ofthe wall sections, as shown in Figure 7, and indicated by the numeralsI'I and I8. 'I'hese expansion joints may also be located at any otherpoint or points and formed in any manner. The metal lath may also beformed as shown in Figure 1 or as shown in Figures 4 and 6 in Whichthecorrugations are round instead of triangular and the expansion joint isomitted. In this design these sections are indicated by the numerals i9and 20 and grooves 2I are formed at the outer edges which coincide withthe edges of the channel 3 and form stops for the plaster. The plastermay be worked up to these points and if they are lled with plaster itmay be removed and they may remain open or they may be filled with puttyor paint or any material. The metal lath is provided with openings 22,as shown in Figure 6, so that the plaster may pass thru the lath andcompletely ll the spaces on both sides thereof to form a positive bind.These openings may be of any other shape and arranged in any manner andany type of lath, mesh, wire, or thin metal casings may be used.

In the design shown in Figure 2 al1 of the steel or metal parts areomitted except the expansion bolts and a yielding block 23 is providedthe full width of the wall with the plaster stopping at the edgesthereof. In this design a surfacing of the plaster, or of paint, may becontinued over the ends of theblock 23 so that the corners of the fwallmay be formed with a smooth neat appearance. It will be understood thatany other means may be used in combination with the rubber such as athin strip of material 24, as shown in Figure 10, which may be gummed tothe surface of the partition and wall to provide means for holding thepaint. This strip of material is comparatively thin, about the thicknessof a sheet of paper, so that it will not be visible thru the paint. Itwill be understood that any other Vmeans may be used for covering theyielding block 23 and for nishing the corners of the wall. The yieldingblock 23 is held by an expansion bolt 25 and a recess 26 is provided inthe It will be understood that this recess may be omitted as the tile isformed with openings thruout which will clear the head of the bolt. Itwill also be understood that the bolt may be omitted and the block 23cemented to the surface of the Wall and also to the partition. The endof the partition may also be roughened, as shown in Figure 3, to insurea bind between the tile and resilient material and it will also beunderstood that any other means may be used in place of the roughsurface at the end of the tile for holding the resilient or yieldingblock to the partition. i

In the design shown in Figure 3 the channel 3 is replaced by angles 27and 28 which will make it possible to use the joint on walls with unevensurfaces. In this design the yielding block l is not held by anexpansion bolt and it will be understood that an expansion bolt may beplaced thru this block in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 1, orto that shown in Figure 2, or as may be desired. The angles 2l and 28are inde- 20 pendently held by expansion bolts 29 and 3D, however, itwill be understood that they may be held by any other means. It willalso be understood that the rough surface 3| at the end of thepartition, block or tile may be used with any of the other designs shownand may also be omitted in this design. It will also be understood thatthe expansion joints 32 may be provided as shown or may be formed asshown in Figure l or in any other manner.

In the design shown in Figure 4 the block of v'resilient material isomitted providing an air space 9, as hereinbefore described, and grooves2I are provided adjacent the edges of the channel 3. in one side of thewall and the molding 34 may be attached to this, as shown. It will beunder- 'stood that the nailing strip may be provided in both sides andmay be used in any of the other "designs and also that the molding maybe mount- 40 ed as shown or in any other manner or by any other means.

In the design shown in Figure 5 a finishing curved corner 35 is providedwith beads 36 and 3l at the edgesand it will be understood that strips Yof material of any shape or material may be provided to provide cornersat the ends of the channel 3 or at the intersections of the walls. Thesemay be in the form of molding, as shown in Figure 8, or plain curvedsurfaces, as shown in Figure 5, or of any other design.

In the design shown in Figure '7, the molding is formed of metal and isattached to the side of the channel 3 by screws 38, which are tappedinto the channel at the points 39, as shown. It will be understood thatmolding of any other type or design may be used and also that it may beheld to the channel or wall in any other manner. In the design shown inFigure 8 the molding @It is shaped in the end of the channel member I,which is Y indicated by the numeral 4i, and it will also be understoodthat this molding may be shaped, as shown in Figure 5, or may be of anyother shape or design as may be desired. It will also be understood thatthe ends of the channel shaped members 3 may be of any other form toprovide a. sliding joint between the wall surface and the edges thereofso that there will not be an abrupt break as between the edges of thechannel and the surface of the wall, as shown in Figure 1.

In this design a nailing strip 33 is provided 35 f thin spring materialso that as the wall section I moves toward the leg of the channel 3 thepart 43 of the casing will bend, contracting the plaster therein, andprovide lateral movement of the wall. It will be understood that thismaterial may be formed in any other manner and any other means may beused for forming a laterally movable joint between the walls andchannels or between the Walls direct. In this design the member 42 ispro-vided with an outwardly extending end 4a forming a molding and itwill be understood that this may be of any shape or design. The casingis also provided with ridges to insure a positive bind between thecasing and plaster of the Wall.

In the design shown in Figure l the leg 45 of the channel shaped member,which is indicated by the numeral 4'?, is set within the surface of theWall so that the outer surface of the channel is flush with the outersurface of the Wall, and the casing 63 at the end of the plaster sectionis provided with a recess 49 to permit movement between the end of theleg d5 and the edge of the plaster of the wall. The strip of material2li, which may be gummed to the surfaces of the walls and channels, willcompletely cover the opening t9 and also the end of the channel 46 andas this is very thin, as hereinbefore described, it may be covered withpaint without being visible. It will be understood that the legs of thechannels and also the angles shown in any of the other designs may alsobe set within the limits of the walls to provide flush joints and anyother means may be used to compensate for the travel or movement betweenthe partitions and legs of the channels.

It will be understood that other changes may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the useof the joint for a Wall, partition or sub-dividing wall of any othertype or description, another may be in the use of other means forforming a binding at the edges of the plaster, another may be in the useof steel or metal shapes of any other type or description in combinationwith the wall to form the telescoping or yielding joint, another may bein the use of any other means for securing the parts together, and stillanother may be in the use of any other material or materials for thewalls or any of the parts of the joints.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription. In use the device may be built into the joint by placingthe channel against the side of the wall or upon the ceiling, securingit in place, placing the resilient member therein, building the tilepartition against the resilient member, tacking the metal lath andcasings to the tile, and plastering up to the said casings with theplaster filling the same. The entire wall and structure may then becoated or painted or covered by any means. The sides of the channel maybe painted the same color as the wall or may be used as a trim, or maybe incorporated in the wall by making them flush therewith, andcompletely covered and painted, or arranged in any other manner. Ashereinbefore stated, the wall, partition or sub-dividing wall may beformed of tile, covered with plaster, however, it will be understoodthat the wall may be made of any material and may be covered in anymanner or by any means, or any composition wall, or a wall formed ofstructural shapes or special patented processes, or of artificialsto-ne, or the like, may be used. The surfacing material may also beattached in any manner or formed directly thereon or made integral withthe central part of the wall, as may be desired. It will be understoodthat with the wall shown in Figure l the projecting flanges of thechannel form the telescoping sides into which the wall f5 or partitionis yieldingly held and it will be understood that similar projectionsmay be formed on a wall in any manner or by any means and of anymaterial.

With a joint formed in this manner the wall or 10 out cracking orbreaking the partition, and it will also be noted that with the casingsformed, as shown in Figure 9. the sub-dividing wall or partition maymove laterally, or the main Wall may move laterally in relation to thepartition. The expansion bolts may also be placed in slotted holes inthe channel, so that the channels may move laterally in relation to thepermanent wall to compensate for distortion caused by settling or windsway in the main wall or building structure.

It will also be understood that, as hereinbefore stated, any type ofcorners or moldings may be used in combination with any of the designsand these may be made integral with the parts of the joint or attachedthereto, or attached to nailing strips, or held or formed in any manneror means.

It will also be understood that any other means may be used forobscuring the joint between the wall or partition and main wall.

The joint is described as particularly adaptable for building new walls,partitions, or sub-dividing walls, however, it may also be used forrepairing walls, and the design shown in Figure 3 is particularlyadaptable for this purpose, however, any of the other designs may beused.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A yielding wall joint comprising a channel adapted to be positionedwith the back against a wall surface a block of resilient material insaid channel, a plaster wall at right angles to said Wall surfacetelescoping in said channel With the central portion engaging said blockof resilient material, and with the ends of the plaster extending intosaid channel and stopping short of the wall surface, providing freedomof movement between all parts of the wall at right angles to the wallsurface and the wall surface.

2. The combination with a flat surface, of a sub-dividing wall abuttingsaid at surface in which space is provided between all parts 0f saidwall and said flat surface, and a channel shaped member is positionedagainst said flat surface with the flanges thereof extending outward andoverlapping the surfaces of said wall providing freedom of movement ofsaid wall in relation to said flat surface, said subdividing wall formedwith a central supporting section having both sides surfaced withplaster in which the central portion and plaster terminate a shortdistance from said flat surface, and having metallic strips attached tothe central portion holding the edges of the plaster, forming a bindingtherefor, and engaging with the inner surfaces of the flanges extendingfrom the member on said flat surface.

3. The combination with a flat surface, of a sub-dividing wall abuttingsaid flat surface in which space is provided between all parts of saidmember is positioned against said flat surface with the flanges thereofextending outward and overlapping the surfaces of ,said Wall providingfreedom of movement of said Wall in relation to v`5 said flat surface,said sub-dividing wall formed with a central supporting section havingboth sides surfaced with plaster in Which the central portion andplaster terminate a short distance from said flat surface, and metallicstrips atlogtached to the central portion of said Wall holding the edgesof the plaster, forminga binding therefor and engaging with the innersurfaces of the flanges extending from the member on said flat surface,and said strips recessed in the 15 g outer surface of said plaster.

extending outward from the surface of the main Wall, telescoping thesides of the partition and overlapping the ends thereof, and meanscovering the exposed surfaces thereof and adapted to form a fiat surfacewhen covered with paint, said partition formed of material ofsubstantial thickness With the entire component parts thereofterminating short of the surface of the main Wall and spaced therefrom,and with the sides thereof extending between and engaging with the innerSurfaces of said strips of material extending from said main Wall, saidpartition, or sub-dividing Wall, adapted to move toward or away from thesurface of said main Wall telescoping Within the said strips ofmaterial, said construcion forming 15 an expansion joint substantiallyWithin the confines of the partition and also substantially obscured.

JOHN MCINERNEY.

